Mizoram civil bodies demand resignation of Minister Dr. BD Chakma

Aizawl (zoramobserver.com): Various Mizoram civil bodies including the central committee of Young Mizo Association (Central YMA) have demanded the resignation of Minister of State for Fisheries Dr. Buddha Dhan Chakma for allegedly instigating communal tension in the state.

Leaders of Mizoram NGO Co-Ordination committee led by its president Lalbiakzuala on Thursday called on Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla and submitted a memorandum demanding that Dr. BD Chakma be dismissed as Minister of State (MoS) for allegedly indulging in anti-government activities and being responsible for instigation of ethnic tension between the Mizos and Chakmas.

The joint NGO alleged that Chakma had been indulging in anti-government activities on several occasions and in 2014 some of MZP leaders were arrested by Mizoram police due to the involvement of the minister when the student body tried to construct “Zofate Chawlhbuk” (Rest house for Zofate) at Borapansury village in Chakma Autonomous District Council (CADC) area.

Photo: Dr. BD Chakma

The committee also alleged that Chakma was one of the prominent figures among people who boycotted MDC election in 2014 in protest against the construction of ‘rest house’ at Borapansury.

“We are taking strong exception to the minister, who at the time of his induction ceremony took an oath to work honestly and righteously under the constitution, going against the government and involved in anti-government activities by boycotting elections,” the joint NGO said in a memorandum.

The NGO co-ordination committee also held Chakma responsible for a clash between police and innocent students during a protest on July 20. “In spite of knowing that the studenta were protesting against the inclusion of four Chakma students in the state’s MBBS quota, the minister sought help from Aizawl SP to provide security to Chakma students and bring them under police escort to the counselling venue. This resulted in a clash between the police and Mizo students,” the memorandum also said.

Accusing the minister of failing to execute his duty under the constitution, the joint NGO asked Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla to sack the former as minister for allegedly indulging in anti-government activities and being responsible for instigating ethnic tension in the state.

Co-Editor, Zoramobserver.com. Mr. Khojol is a journalist based in Aizawl, Mizoram. He writes for various national and regional media houses. In his free time, he can be caught reading books and watching movies.